Five Children and It · Character
Martha
The family's maid, sharp-eyed and short-tempered, who sees through the children's schemes even as she is coaxed into them.
supporting
Also known as Martha'll
First appearance: five children and it
As a supporting figure in Five Children and It, Martha is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Keeps the children indoors as punishment; serves invisible dinner.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Martha keeps house for the children and the Lamb, laying the cloth with a bang and refusing to be flattered out of her suspicions. When Anthea offers her a Liberty box to take the Lamb to Rochester, Martha sees at once…
Continue beside the text
The fuller portrait of Martha sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Martha in five children and itCharacter Web
18 connectionsA slice of how Martha sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Professional
- Other
Character groups
- Core family and household
- Protagonist
+13 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because Cyril’s secret, early-morning negotiation with the Psammead repres…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Anthea
professional · positive
Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the… How this plays out →
- The Lamb
professional · positive
- Robert
professional · ambivalent
- Anthea
professional · positive
Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the… How this plays out →
- Anthea
professional · positive
Anthea interacts with Martha, the family servant, who helps care for the children and the… How this plays out →
- Robert
professional · ambivalent
- Robert
professional · ambivalent
- The Lamb
professional · positive
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Martha in five children and itIn the story
Martha appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Martha unlock in the free preview.
See Martha in five children and it